Northern Hotel surveillance video shows assaults leading to death of Peguis First Nation man
Erin Brohman | CBC News | Posted: March 3, 2016 4:56 AM | Last Updated: March 3, 2016
Winnipeg Police ask public to help identify persons of interest in case
The manager of the Northern Hotel has shocking surveillance footage of the series of assaults that led to the death of 43-year-old Henry Kipling, a father of two from Peguis First Nation.
The CBC has seen the video footage of both assaults but is not sharing it to protect the police investigation.
It shows Kipling, who was in Winnipeg for a wedding social, waiting in the liquor vendor line in the hotel lobby with a group of people at around 2:15 a.m.
It shows Kipling, who was in Winnipeg for a wedding social, waiting in the liquor vendor line in the hotel lobby with a group of people at around 2:15 a.m.
The area is crowded and he is jostled and bumped into a group of women in line in front of him. One woman in particular appears to yell at him and get agitated. Minutes later, she turns and punches him in the side of the head.
"It was just completely senseless," said Keith Horn, who saw the assault as he was overseeing the customers.
Horn is then seen escorting the woman out of her spot in line and outside.
Surveillance footage from the exterior of the building shows the same woman standing in front of the building, facing the door.
"It was just completely senseless," said Keith Horn, who saw the assault as he was overseeing the customers.
Horn is then seen escorting the woman out of her spot in line and outside.
Surveillance footage from the exterior of the building shows the same woman standing in front of the building, facing the door.
Minutes later, Kipling steps outside, carrying a 24-pack of beer.
He is looking the other way when the woman winds up and strikes him in the head with an extreme force. He is knocked onto his back and his head hits the pavement. As a group of people help him up, the woman goes behind him and yanks him back down onto the pavement again. He hits his head a second time.
"It's a full force throw-down. As I was walking outside I could actually hear as his head hit the ground," said Horn.
He is looking the other way when the woman winds up and strikes him in the head with an extreme force. He is knocked onto his back and his head hits the pavement. As a group of people help him up, the woman goes behind him and yanks him back down onto the pavement again. He hits his head a second time.
"It's a full force throw-down. As I was walking outside I could actually hear as his head hit the ground," said Horn.
Horn is seen rushing to Kipling's side as he lies on the ground.
Meanwhile, another woman who was seen standing in the crowd with the woman who assaulted Kipling appears to run over to take a photo of him with her phone.
Then, several people help him to his feet again.
"When I checked him, he didn't have any blood in the back of his head, and there was not cuts," said Horn.
In the video footage, Kipling is seen swaying back and forth and rubbing his head. He struggles to stay standing.
Time passes while Kipling and his two friends wait for a cab further down the sidewalk. Horn said every time they tried to get in a cab, someone would jump in ahead of them.
"When I checked him, he didn't have any blood in the back of his head, and there was not cuts," said Horn.
In the video footage, Kipling is seen swaying back and forth and rubbing his head. He struggles to stay standing.
Time passes while Kipling and his two friends wait for a cab further down the sidewalk. Horn said every time they tried to get in a cab, someone would jump in ahead of them.
At 2:50 a.m., two people approach Kipling and one man appears to throw Henry and the two people he's with down to the ground. He hits his head a third time, but this time does not get up. The man grabs his case of beer and runs off.
Late Saturday evening, police told Horn that Kipling died in hospital of a brain bleed, after an unsuccessful surgery.
Now, many in Peguis First Nation are mourning the well-loved, long-standing Peguis Gaming employee. Kipling had a partner and two children in the community.
"He was the kindest man. He would never hurt a fly. Anything you needed help with, he would do it," said Jennifer Thomas, Kipling's aunt, adding he was always smiling.
"Friendly, outgoing, gentle. Hardworking. He was a very dedicated employee. And very well-liked within the community. And well respected," said Cindy Spence, chief of Peguis First Nation.
Police too are saddened by the circumstances that led to Kipling's death. They don't believe the people that assaulted Kipling knew him.
"Harmless, not having any prior police involvement in the past…[it's] very unfortunate that our victim... was subjected to not only one incident, but two incidents, where his injuries were obviously very, very serious," said Const. Jason Michalyshen with the Winnipeg Police Service.
He said the Winnipeg community as a whole needs to address the circumstances that lead to high risk situations, and senseless acts of violence.
"In general, when individuals are consuming alcohol to excess, when businesses are potentially serving alcohol to excess, that's a problem," he said.
The police are asking that anyone with information on the two individuals come forward, at the very least for Kipling.
"It's pretty safe to say that someone will look at this picture and know exactly who we're talking about. And we would appreciate that phone call," said Michalyshen.
Kipling's family in Peguis First Nation are preparing for his funeral on Friday.
Late Saturday evening, police told Horn that Kipling died in hospital of a brain bleed, after an unsuccessful surgery.
Now, many in Peguis First Nation are mourning the well-loved, long-standing Peguis Gaming employee. Kipling had a partner and two children in the community.
"He was the kindest man. He would never hurt a fly. Anything you needed help with, he would do it," said Jennifer Thomas, Kipling's aunt, adding he was always smiling.
"Friendly, outgoing, gentle. Hardworking. He was a very dedicated employee. And very well-liked within the community. And well respected," said Cindy Spence, chief of Peguis First Nation.
Police too are saddened by the circumstances that led to Kipling's death. They don't believe the people that assaulted Kipling knew him.
"Harmless, not having any prior police involvement in the past…[it's] very unfortunate that our victim... was subjected to not only one incident, but two incidents, where his injuries were obviously very, very serious," said Const. Jason Michalyshen with the Winnipeg Police Service.
He said the Winnipeg community as a whole needs to address the circumstances that lead to high risk situations, and senseless acts of violence.
"In general, when individuals are consuming alcohol to excess, when businesses are potentially serving alcohol to excess, that's a problem," he said.
The police are asking that anyone with information on the two individuals come forward, at the very least for Kipling.
"It's pretty safe to say that someone will look at this picture and know exactly who we're talking about. And we would appreciate that phone call," said Michalyshen.
Kipling's family in Peguis First Nation are preparing for his funeral on Friday.